1 John 3:4-9 is probably one of the most controversial verses in the Bible, because it talks about believers being unable to sin. If someone reads this without grasping the context of these verses, they might wrongly conclude that they are not a believer when they sin, or adopt a performance-oriented, law-driven mindset, which completely misses the essence of what John is conveying here.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
This is John emphasizing the transformative power of salvation and the distinction between the believer’s regenerated spirit and the influence of sin. The statement that “whoever has been born of God does not sin” is rooted in the understanding that sin originates from the flesh, not the believer’s true, regenerated self. Let’s dive into this:
Sin as Lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
John begins by defining sin as lawlessness, which signifies rebellion against God. For the believer, however, sin is foreign to their new identity. The flesh, not the spirit, is the source of sin. Believers have been transformed by the love of God (1 John 3:1-3), and their new nature leads them to reject lawlessness.
Paul affirms this in Romans 6:12: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its lusts.” Sin resides in the flesh, but believers, as new creations, are no longer slaves to its power.
Christ’s Mission: To Remove Sin (1 John 3:5)
“And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.”
Jesus came to deal decisively with sin—removing its power, penalty, and dominion. And He did that. We were crucified, buried and resurrected with Him, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly places. Because believers are united with Him, they share in His sinless nature. This was His mission, and He said “It is finished”. We are no longer sinners, and we cannot sin, but rather we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
This means that sin cannot originate from the believer’s true self. Any sin that occurs is external, stemming from the flesh. This is why Paul keeps saying “awake to righteousness” which is our true nature, and that if you live by the Spirit you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16).
Your Location Repels Sin (1 John 3:6)
“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
Believers abide in Him. This abiding keeps believers in alignment with their true nature, making sin incompatible. Paul explains this in Galatians 5:16: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”.
Jesus has changed our location. We are no longer in sin, and we can live in our new location. However, flesh, the old mindsets are still around, and they lure us to walk outside our location, and sin is when we make the choice to walk in something incompatible to our true nature.
Sin is the work of the flesh, as Paul outlines in Romans 7:17-20, where he acknowledges the internal struggle: “It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” The believer’s spirit, born of God, cannot sin because it is united with Christ.
The Role of God’s Seed (1 John 3:9)
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
The “seed of God” refers to His divine nature implanted in believers through our unity with Christ. God didn’t just change our location, but he changed our whole being. We are dead to sin, and that is just half the story, but because of our union with Christ, we are alive to God. John’s point is simple- that you will always act according to your seed.
Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 1:23: “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
Sin as External Pressure
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, let me say this again- Sin originates from the flesh, which represents the remnants of the old self. While the believer’s spirit is regenerated and righteous, the flesh continues to exert influence. Paul writes in Romans 8:9: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
The flesh acts as external pressure, tempting the believer to act contrary to their true nature. However, the believer is empowered to resist sin and live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25)1.
We are Defined By Righteousness
1 John 3:7-8 provides assurance that righteousness, not sin, is the defining characteristic of God’s children:
- “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
- “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
John reassures believers that their lives, marked by righteousness, reflect their new identity in Christ. Sin is incompatible with this identity because Christ has destroyed the works of the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
Practical Implications for Believers
- Recognize Sin’s Source:
- Sin originates from the flesh, not the believer’s spirit. Understanding this helps believers separate their actions from their identity in Christ.
- Walk by the Spirit:
- Living by the Spirit empowers believers to overcome the influence of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
- Rest in Assurance:
- Believers can have confidence that their salvation is secure, as their true nature is righteous and aligned with God.
- Renew the Mind:
- By focusing on their identity in Christ, believers can resist the patterns of the flesh (Romans 12:2).
Conclusion
1 John 3:4-9 affirms the profound truth that sin does not originate from the believer’s new nature but from external pressures, such as the flesh. The new creation, born of God and indwelt by His Spirit, is inherently righteous and cannot produce sin. This understanding empowers believers to live in victory over sin, walking confidently in their identity as children of God.
- Hence responsible for their own actions. ↩︎
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